In winter, trees reveal a unique beauty with their elegant silhouettes against the stark sky. Stripped of leaves, their intricate branches create captivating scenes of contrast and texture. Appreciating trees in winter before spring comes, makes the next season even more special. Many can be found along our tree walks of Vancouver.
Winter Trees is the title poem of Plath’s 1971 posthumous collection of poetry published by her husband Ted Hughes, who served as the Canadian poet laureate from 1974 to 1984.
Winter Trees by Sylvia Plath
The wet dawn inks are doing their blue dissolve.
On their blotter of fog the trees
Seem a botanical drawing–
Memories growning, ring on ring,
A series of weddings.
Knowing neither abortions nor bitchery,
Truer than women,
They seed so effortlessly!
Tasting the winds, that are footless,
Waisting-deep in history–
Full of wings, otherworldliness.
In this, they are Ledas.
O mother of leaves and sweetness
Who are these peitas?
The shadows of ringdoves chanting, but easing nothing.